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MLB's The Pitch 15.7.10
THE PITCH Thursday 15 July 2010 (To unsubscribe to THE PITCH simply send an email to majorleaguebaseball@bigpond.com or telephone 02 9238 2292.) Attached: Australian broadcast schedule of MLB games and current stats for all active Australian professional players. Week in Review Here is the latest on the Australians playing in the Major Leagues. Note: hyperlinks in this section lead to web pages which include relevant video highlights: Grant Balfour (Glenwood NSW) pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA over 38 appearances covering 37.2 innings. The Rays are 54-34 (.614) in 2nd place in the AL East two games behind the NY Yankees:
RAYS GAME ON AUS TV: Rays v Yankees on Saturday 17 July on ONE at 9:00 am. Peter Moylan (Vermont South VIC) is 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 46 appearances totalling 34 innings. The Braves are 52-36 (.591) in 1st place in the NL East four games ahead of the NY Mets.
No BRAVES games on AUS TV this week. Ryan Rowland-Smith (Newcastle NSW) is 1-9 with a 5.89 ERA in 19 appearances, 16 starts. He’s pitched 84.0 innings allowing 55 earned runs on 102 hits and 36 walks while striking out 32. The Mariners are 35-53 (.398) in last place in the AL West 15 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers.
Rowland-Smith is next scheduled to start US Saturday 17 July while visiting the Angels – 11:05 am Sunday morning Sydney time. No MARINERS games on AUS TV this week.
TIGERS GAME ON AUS TV: Rangers v Tigers Wed 21 July on ONE at 9:00 am. Rich Thompson (St Ives NSW) is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two appearances; he’s pitched 2.2 innings allowing one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts. The Angels are 47-44 (.516) in 2nd place in the AL West 4 ½ games behind Texas.
ANGELS GAME ON AUS TV: Angels v Yankees Wed 21 July on FOX at 9:00 am. GEELONG PITCHER JOSH SPENCE PICKED UP BY SAN DIEGO PADRES Sophie Smith, Geelong Advertiser – 10 July Geelong pitcher Josh Spence is set to play with the San Diego Padres' minor league affiliate in days. The 22-year-old has verbally agreed to a contract with the club, who picked him up in last month's Major League Baseball draft. Spence is expected to sign a contract with the Padres pending a physical examination in San Diego this weekend. Pending the test it is believed the former Geelong Baycat will then travel to Eugene, Oregon, to begin his professional career. Spence has made a substantial comeback from injury in the past three weeks where he pitched 10 innings over three games for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The lefty opted to sit out his senior year college season with Arizona State University and not aggravate a nerve-related elbow injury in his throwing arm. The decision to sit out gave him with an extra option to play for Arizona next season. Spence made his return to the mound, for the Kettleers, days after the MLB draft and pitched a conservative two innings as part of on-going rehabilitation. Last week he pitched five scoreless innings in what is likely to be his last game in the CCBL this year. The past month has been anything but smooth sailing for Spence as his first game for the Kettleers coincided with Arizona's College World Series berth. The Waurn Ponds product was criticised on internet forums for not representing Arizona and accused of abandoning the side in an effort to seek leverage in contract negotiations with the Padres. Spence addressed critics in a published statement that read: " ... the scrutiny I have faced over the last 48 hours has been both overwhelming and hurtful. My two inning rehabilitation assignment, which I will be building on in the Cape Cod Baseball League is being looked into much deeper than the reality of it. "I think it's unfair to not be given an opportunity to play a full collegiate season, especially when you have invested greatly into the program; that's why the decision for me to redshirt was made some time ago and the focus became on spring 2011. Spence has twice been picked up by Major League teams but he chose to play at college to finish his degree. "I'm not looking for any leverage or negotiating power. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity and I am excited about it," Spence told the Geelong Advertiser the day he was picked up by the Padres. SINGLE-A LEAGUES: TUNES KEY FOR MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS’ PLAYERS Introduction ditty can be music to a superstitious ear Ian Guerin, The Sun News – 11 July Matt Kennelly (Palmyra WA) got the first laugh on teammate Cole Miles. Then he got the second. Odds are, though, the battle between the two musical pranksters in the Pelicans clubhouse isn't over. Kennelly and Miles, two of the longest-standing Myrtle Beach players, began a duel several weeks ago in regards to each other's walk-up music. It started when Kennelly changed Miles' to Justin Bieber's "Baby" before a July 3 game against Salem. In return, Kennelly was set to walk out Tuesday to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." Only, Kennelly caught wind of the revenge and nipped it in the bud. "I told [the game operations] guys my family was in town for the game," Kennelly said, admitting he pulled a fast one on Pelicans staffers to prevent the 1990s soul ballad from blaring through BB&T Coastal Field when he came to the plate. Instead, when Kennelly got his turn to bat, his normal walk-up music - the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Snow" - was in full force. The joking between the two players shed some light on the paranoia that some ballplayers have when it comes to what is essentially 10-20 seconds of music before they head to the plate or the mound. Only the closest of friends would ever think of changing another player's tunes, and they do so knowing retribution could be Whitney Houston cruel. For most players, those few moments of their walk-up song can directly affect his mentality before they try to do their job, be it a position player unloading a key base hit or a pitcher getting out of a jam. Although the music itself isn't going to change the player's preparation, most say it can be a shot of adrenaline when it's needed most. "It kind of sets your tone, your mind frame for your at-bat," Miles said. "Some guys like to get pumped up. Other guys, you go on your road trip, they have easy stuff. It depends on what you need to do; if you need to relax or get pumped up. The music fits the mind frame of what you need to do." Miles' own walk-up music history is the perfect example. In the past, he's used rap clips from 50 Cent and Lil' Wayne. This year, after he found out a friend of his quit baseball and abandoned Manfred Mann's "Blinded By The Light," he made the change to that song. It hasn't always necessarily paid off, but Miles claims it's the only track for him. Call it another in a long line of mind games in possibly the most superstitious sport known to man. Manager Rocket Wheeler said during his playing days he bought into the philosophy by refusing to wash his stirrups during a hitting streak. Then, as a manager, he said he's made bus drivers use alternate routes to a game when things aren't going well. As far as a player's walk-up music goes, Wheeler said it's something only the player and the fans generally notice. Although the players' mentality can be affected one way or the other, he says fans have told him in the past that they learn to identify players by the song to which they approach the plate or mound. If it's a catchy song that everyone knows, that factor is multiplied. No matter what, you don't mess with a player's routine - especially when things are going well. "If you're on a roll, you wear your socks the same way. You drive the same way [to the park]," Wheeler said. "Baseball is a superstitious sport. It all comes down to the psyche part of the game ... getting to the positive side of the game." That is a place Kennelly said he was quite far from during the first half of the season. The Pelicans catcher struggled at the plate, hitting just .221 before the All-Star Break. He decided to mellow out his song choice a little bit, changing it to "Snow" from the Alex Gaudino dance tune "Destination Unknown." His average has actually slipped a few points in the second half. But? "I've been making good contact," he said. And that is sort of how it works. It may not have turned Kennelly into a .300 hitter, but the confidence factor means more than anything. It's a scenario that happens more often than people notice. An 0-for-4 night at the plate might lead to that player sending clubhouse staff members to games operations officials to change that music. Last week alone, there were at least two legitimate music changes. "People will find something to blame it on, so they will want to switch the mindset with a different song to give them something a little different, I guess," Miles said. "It gets changed frequently, depending on success." Or, in a handful of cases, when players are having a bit of fun with each other. THRESHERS FALL DESPITE KENNELLY’S BIG DAY MinorLeagueBaseball.com – 11 July The Daytona Cubs were able to inch past the Clearwater Threshers by a score of 8-7 on Sunday at Bright House Field, despite Tim Kennelly's big day at the plate. Kennelly (Palmyra WA) registered five RBI and three hits in four plate appearances. After the Cubs raced to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Kennelly laced a bases-loaded double to left field to put Clearwater on top 3-2. Both offenses went quietly into the fifth when the Cubs knotted the game on Jose Valdez's sacrifice fly. The Threshers responded with a two-run sixth as Derrick Mitchell and Jim Murphy each drove home runs. Daytona tried its best to run away with the game, putting up four runs in the seventh on three home runs. However, Kennelly evened the score once again in the eighth with his third home run on the season. The Cubs managed to plate the eventual winning run in the ninth when Jake Opitz hit a pinch-hit double that scored Junior Lake from first base. Jeff Beliveau (2-1) worked two innings for the win and James Leverton hurled a perfect ninth for his first save of the season. Matt Way made his first start at Bright House Field since being called up from Lakewood and went just two innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Jordan Ellis (0-1) was charged with the loss. MLB ACADEMY: BASEBALL STAR CAMPBELL TO REPRESENT OZ Jay Buchan, The Queensland Times – 14 July Long touted as a child prodigy, the last year has made a huge difference in the baseball career of Ipswich’s Andrew Campbell. Campbell is off to Thunder Bay, Canada, with the Australian team to contest the under-19 AAA World Baseball Classic from July 23 to August 1. “It is probably the first time I’ll get to represent my country properly,” a proud Campbell said. “I’m pretty stoked. “It is always good to wear the green and gold.” Campbell was picked in the national squad of 20 from about 50 of Australia’s best under-19 baseballers, who have been training at the Major League Academy at the Gold Coast. He has been training and playing at the academy for the past six weeks, with a week remaining before the national team heads to Canada. "It’s going pretty well,” said the 18-year-old, known to friends as Soupy. “Better than last year. “I’ve been hitting better and had a better preparation. “I’m also bigger and stronger, which is helping me.” The other thing helping him is the experience he’s gained, through the academy and representing Queensland in last summer’s Claxton Shield. “There is less pressure,” Campbell said of his head space now, compared to a year ago. “Under difficult situations, I’m better. “I’m more confident in the batting box and everywhere.” It has all helped him qualify for his first Australian representative team since under-13s. “I was hoping to get picked,” Campbell said of making the Australian team. “I thought I was an alright chance. “I had to perform and I think I did. “I hit a lot better than last year.” Campbell thinks part of it may be to do with the weaker standard of pitchers at the academy this season, but that may also be more to do with his own development. The Yamanto teen has high hopes Australia can mix it with the best in Canada. “I think we’ve got a pretty good chance,” he said. “We’ve got a good hitting team. “We had a bloke, an ex-major league manager/coach, who said he thinks we can go far.” The USA, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Chinese Taipei are expected to provide the stiffest opposition and for Australia to stand any chance, Campbell knows everything will have to go right. The good news for Ipswich is when Campbell returns from Canada, his focus will shift to the upcoming season with the Musketeers. Last year Campbell became a key player in the Muskets top line-up and, if his own assessment of his development is to be believed, this year he should be one of the club’s dominant players. MINNESOTA TWINS SIGN JACOB YOUNIS Note: This was originally released last month … just a little slow in including it. At the tender age of 16, Jacob Younis from Sydney's west has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club. Jacob will report in April 2011 to extended spring training at the Twins Fort Myers complex in Florida. The talented baseball player welcomed interest from several organizations over the past year and as the interest continued to expand for the slick fielding short stop the probability of offers to sign professionally increased. Following the Australian High School Baseball Championships in Perth, where Jacob excelled, the Minnesota Twins made contact with Jacob's Manager Craig Stoves to gauge the possibility of signing the gifted infielder. This contact resulted in a firm offer being placed on the table. Further discussions with several organizations were put in motion and following these talks a subsequent offer was put forward from a second organization. Discussions and negotiations continued over the next couple of weeks and the Minnesota Twins who showed a high level of interest in the young prospect secured Jacob's signature with a solid six figure deal. Howie Norsetter, the Minnesota Twins scout, who positioned himself well in securing the services of the exciting athlete, communicated his thoughts after the signing by saying "The Minnesota Twins have been following Jacob for quite some time. We are very happy that he has chosen to play professional baseball with the Minnesota Twins. He is a dedicated, hard working young man who has the necessary ingredients to climb the minor league ladder to the Major Leagues. He is a Twins type prospect. I have no doubt that he will work hard to develop the tools and skills necessary to contribute in the Major Leagues with the Twins. It is a credit to his family, his coaches, and his teammates that Jacob has been able to progress and succeed, and we look forward to his further development in the Twins' minor leagues. Jacob will finish his final year of High School in Australia and report next year to extended spring training where he will play in the GCL." Jacob, currently at the renowned Major League Baseball Australian Academy, on Queensland's Gold Coast, is thrilled with the knowledge of now heading to the USA as a professional baseball player and spoke briefly on his signing by saying. "My family have given me a lot of support with my baseball commitments and I know their strong support will continue as I progress onto professional baseball. This next step in baseball will be a small step to paying them back for all they have done for me. I am really excited to sign with such a great organization as the Twins - they have, and have had a lot of Australians through their system and I know they are a really good organization." Jacob started playing baseball at the age of 6 with the Baulkham Hills Baseball Club in Sydney's North West and over the years he advanced through the Hills system to where he played 1st grade baseball this past summer season. Representative honours have been a regular part of Jacob's progress having been selected to the Hills representative team at the under 12, 14 & 16 age brackets. At the under 12 age group Jacob toured Japan twice as a member of a New South Wales Team. In 2006 Jacob was rewarded for his exceptional baseball play by gaining selection to the Australian Team to compete in the Cal Ripken World Series. During this prestigious World Series event Jacob performed to such a grand level that he was chosen as the starting short stop for the World All-Star Team. Following on from this outstanding feat were even more stellar accomplishments. Selection to the New South Wales State teams at the under 14, 16 & 18 age brackets where Jacob competed at the Australian Baseball Championships. Also during this same period there was representation at the high school baseball level with the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Team and The New South Wales All Schools Team. 2009 saw Jacob compete in the New South Wales All Schools Team in Canberra at the Australian High School Baseball Championships where he was rewarded with the Golden Glove for his fine play. His fine play saw him selected to the Australian High School Team. Also in 2009 Jacob gained a position on the roster for the MLB Australian Academy which culminated in selection to the Australian "AA" Team to compete at the World Baseball Championships in Taiwan. Former Major Leaguer Glenn Williams, an assistant coach with this Australian Team and current NSW High Performance Baseball Manager, was pleased to hear of Jacob's signing and shared the following comments by saying. "I was extremely pleased to hear about Jacob's signing with the Twins. Since my employment with BNSW he has been an integral member of BNSW representative teams and a member of our High performance programs. He has always shown a great work ethic and willingness to improve his game and his signing is a just reward for that effort. I have no doubt that Jacob will continue to work very hard on improving his game and is well aware of the work that lies ahead of him in regards to professional baseball. I am sure he will get the most out of his ability and will be a great addition to Twins organization." In 2010 Jacob again represented the New South Wales All Schools team in the Australian High School Baseball Championships in Perth, with NSW taking out the Championships. At tournaments end Jacob was selected to the Australian High School All-Star Team and rewarded for his superb play with the MVP of the Grand Final game as well as the MVP for the entire tournament. Quite an accomplishment! June 2010 again sees Jacob on the roster for the MLB Australian Academy where he will press hard for the duration of camp for selection to the Australian "AAA" Team which will compete at the World Baseball Championships in Canada. Jacob's Manager, Craig Stoves of Platinum Player Management, who provided guidance and support long before the signing and who handled the negotiation process, shared his thoughts on his client's recent signing by saying "Jacob is a quiet, yet fierce competitor on the baseball field and he strives very hard for success. He is a committed player who has a professional approach and prides himself on becoming a standout at each level he plays ball. I feel confident that Jacob will be a standout at each level he plays in the professional baseball system." With April 2011 being just around the corner and the commencement of Jacob's first professional season, there is another important matter at hand for Jacob, and this is his successful completion of High School. While this is a challenging assignment to complete, and one that Jacob will handle well, the exciting challenge ahead that Jacob looks forward to is his professional baseball career. Jacob has an exciting future to look forward to as a professional baseball player and those close to Jacob know very well that he will handle this exciting challenge with a great deal of competence. OTHER PRO LEAGUES: DUGOUT DISH WITH SCOTT WEARNE After last night’s game-winning blast, Laura Verillo sat down this afternoon with Brockton’s second baseman Scott Wearne (Berwick VIC) to discuss life with the Rox, the land down under, and topping an All-Star. LV: What has been the biggest adjustment since moving from Australia? SW: Playing everyday, I didn’t get to play as often in Australia. Living here isn’t much different. Everybody speaks english, so it’s not like there is a language barrier. LV: What’s the biggest difference between playing in here compared to there? SW: Being able to play good baseball consistently. LV: What was it like being a MLB draft pick? SW: It was really nice. I got scouted out of college when I played in Florida. LV: What is your greatest accomplishment as a ballplayer? SW: Winning the batting title in the World Junior Championship. It was pretty great, I actually beat out Joe Mauer. LV: Is it fun having a fellow Australian teammate (Wayne Lundgren)? Did you know each other before playing with the Rox? SW: We had played against each other in Australia, but never together. It’s nice to have him here, it makes things a bit easier. LV: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions? SW: I’m not really all that superstitious. I guess I like to drink coffee before the games. LV: What’s something interesting that people may not know about you? SW: Hmm. That’s a tough one. Well, I guess everyone knows I’m Australian. I was a builder before playing baseball. I’m actually a professional carpenter. This is also my first time playing professional baseball, people probably don’t know that. LV: Did you grow up watching Major League Baseball? SW: Yeah, I did. The Mariners were my favorite team. I don’t know why, I just had one of their hats. My favorite player was probably Ken Griffey Jr. LV: What’s your favorite Rox moment? SW: It had to be last night’s game. LV: And before last night? SW: I guess my first professional hit, and I had another game-winning hit like last night this summer, not a grand slam though. LV: What was it like having your parents here for last night’s walk-off win? SW: It was a great feeling. That doesn’t happen very often in baseball, so it was nice to have them here to see it. NOTE: Watch Wearne’s walk-off grand slam here. AT A GLANCE
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